Open AccessStepwise functional connectivity reveals altered sensory‐multimodal integration in medication‐naïve adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Author(s) -
Pretus Clara,
MarcosVidal Luis,
MartínezGarcía Magdalena,
Picado Marisol,
RamosQuiroga Josep Antoni,
Richarte Vanesa,
Castellanos Francisco X.,
Sepulcre Jorge,
Desco Manuel,
Vilarroya Óscar,
Carmona Susanna
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
human brain mapping
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.005
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1097-0193
pISSN - 1065-9471
DOI - 10.1002/hbm.24727
Subject(s) - sensory system , default mode network , sensation , cognition , functional magnetic resonance imaging , psychology , neuroscience , neuroimaging , functional connectivity , attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , resting state fmri , audiology , medicine , psychiatry
Neuroimaging studies indicate that children with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) present alterations in several functional networks of the sensation‐to‐cognition spectrum. These alterations include functional overconnectivity within sensory regions and underconnectivity between sensory regions and neural hubs supporting higher order cognitive functions. Today, it is unknown whether this same pattern of alterations persists in adult patients with ADHD who had never been medicated for their condition. The aim of the present study was to assess whether medication‐naïve adults with ADHD presented alterations in functional networks of the sensation‐to‐cognition spectrum. Thirty‐one medication‐naïve adults with ADHD and twenty‐two healthy adults underwent resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs‐fMRI). Stepwise functional connectivity (SFC) was used to characterize the pattern of functional connectivity between sensory seed regions and the rest of the brain at direct, short, intermediate, and long functional connectivity distances, thus covering the continuum from the sensory input to the neural hubs supporting higher order cognitive functions. As compared to controls, adults with ADHD presented increased SFC degree within primary sensory regions and decreased SFC degree between sensory seeds and higher order integration nodes. In addition, they exhibited decreased connectivity degree between sensory seeds and regions of the default‐mode network. Consistently, the higher the score in clinical severity scales the lower connectivity degree between seed regions and the default mode network.